Dodgers’ Win Has Only Pinch of Bonds

Barry Bonds needed a break.

The Dodgers were pleased he took one Saturday afternoon in a 6-2 victory against the San Francisco Giants before a sellout crowd of 41,636 at Pacific Bell Park.

Bonds was not in the lineup when the teams started the second game of their season-ending series, about 13 hours after the longest nine-inning game in major league history had ended. He established a season home run record with Nos. 71 and 72 against Chan Ho Park on Friday night.

Bonds was drained after the 4-hour 27-minute game and on-field ceremony that ended Saturday at 12:52 a.m. With the Giants (89-72) and Dodgers (86-75) eliminated from postseason contention, Giant Manager Dusty Baker put rookie Jalal Leach in left in place of Bonds.

The crowd, anticipating homer No. 73, gave Bonds a standing ovation when Baker summoned him to pinch-hit for Eric Davis in the ninth with one out, the Dodgers leading, 6-0, and Jeff Kent on first after Matt Herges hit him with a pitch.

Herges fared better than Park, giving up only a single through the hole at first. Bonds received another standing ovation when Dante Powell ran for him.

“I heard some people say that I was cheating the fans, but Barry was drained emotionally and physically,” Baker said. “Most of the guys didn’t get home until 2 or 2:30 this morning. I wanted to get him one chance where he might win the game, so the fans could acknowledge him and he could acknowledge the fans.”

James Baldwin (3-6) gave up three hits in seven scoreless innings. Jeff Shaw got the final out for his 43rd save, increasing his Dodger record to 129.

Shawn Green knocked in his 125th run, giving him the second-most RBIs in Los Angeles franchise history. Tommy Davis had 153 in 1962.

*

Times staff writer Ross Newhan contributed to this report.